Ikutaro Kakehashi
Encyclopedia
is an engineer, an entrepreneur, the founder of the Roland Corporation
, a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments.
s and created new prototype organs, all the while running an electrical appliance shop. At 28, he decided to devote himself to music, the first step of a continuing search for the ideal electronic musical instrument
.
Ikutaro Kakehashi is best known for founding Roland Corporation
. Prior to Roland he started Acetone, an organ company that evolved into Hammond Organ
Japan. He left Hammond to start Roland in the early 70s.
Ikutaro Kakehashi now assumes the role of Special Consultant, supporting Roland management with his extensive experience and connections. And as chairman of the Roland Foundation, he continues his efforts to contribute to society.
In 1991, based upon his great contribution to the development and popularization of electronic instruments, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Berklee College of Music
, U.S.A. In 2000, he left his handprints on the Rock Walk Hall of Fame
in Hollywood.
In 2002 Kakehashi published his biography in a book called "I Believe In Music" (ISBN 0634037838), and was also featured as a biography in the book The Art of Digital Music.
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
, a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments.
Biography
During the 1950s, Ikutaro Kakehashi, repaired electronic organElectronic organ
An electronic organ is an electronic keyboard instrument which was derived from the harmonium, pipe organ and theatre organ. Originally, it was designed to imitate the sound of pipe organs, theatre organs, band sounds, or orchestral sounds....
s and created new prototype organs, all the while running an electrical appliance shop. At 28, he decided to devote himself to music, the first step of a continuing search for the ideal electronic musical instrument
Electronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
.
Ikutaro Kakehashi is best known for founding Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
. Prior to Roland he started Acetone, an organ company that evolved into Hammond Organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
Japan. He left Hammond to start Roland in the early 70s.
Ikutaro Kakehashi now assumes the role of Special Consultant, supporting Roland management with his extensive experience and connections. And as chairman of the Roland Foundation, he continues his efforts to contribute to society.
In 1991, based upon his great contribution to the development and popularization of electronic instruments, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, U.S.A. In 2000, he left his handprints on the Rock Walk Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
in Hollywood.
In 2002 Kakehashi published his biography in a book called "I Believe In Music" (ISBN 0634037838), and was also featured as a biography in the book The Art of Digital Music.
Highlights
- 1930 - Born in Osaka, Japan.
- 1954 - Started Kakehashi Radio electrical appliance store.
- 1960 - Founded Ace Electronic Industries Inc.Ace ToneAce Electronic Industries Inc., or Ace Tone was a manufacturer of musical instruments, including electronic organs and analogue drum machines, and effects pedals. Founded in 1960 by Ikutaro Kakehashi with an investment by Sakata Shokai, Ace Tone can be considered an early incarnation of the Roland...
- 1972 - Founded Roland CorporationRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
and became president. - 1988 - Roland purchased Rodgers Organ Company renamed Rodgers InstrumentsRodgers InstrumentsRodgers Instruments Corporation is an American manufacturer of classical and church organs. Rodgers was founded in 1958 by Rodgers W. Jenkins and Fred Tinker, employees of Tektronix, Inc., of Portland, Oregon, and members of a Tektronix team developing transistor-based oscillator circuits...
fulfilling Kakehashi's lifelong dream to build large classical organs. - 1994 - Founded Roland Foundation and became chairman.
- 1995 - Appointed chairman of Roland CorporationRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
. - 2001 - Resigned chairman's position and appointed Special Executive Adviser of Roland CorporationRoland Corporationis a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
.
External links
- Ikutaro Kakehashi's Picture
- "Berklee College of Music, Honorary Degree Recipients" http://www.berklee.edu/about/honorary.html
- "Guitar Center's Hollywood Rockwalk" http://www.rockwalk.com/inductees/handPrint.cfm?id=60&disp=2
